Degree Programs

The Department of Fine Arts promotes the study and practice of art as an essential aspect of a comprehensive educational experience. We provide curricula and research opportunities that challenge students to think and communicate in innovative and interdisciplinary ways. We encourage our students to approach problem-solving through multiple perspectives while embracing risk and uncertainty on the path to discovery. Students develop their personal voices in a variety of media through experimentation and reflection, while building the confidence and skills that enable them to be effective communicators.
For students pursuing careers where art, design, craft, and innovation are essential, the department offers two undergraduate degrees: the BA in Fine Arts, the BFA degree which allows for more in-depth study and practice. An Art History option for the BA degree provides students the skills to engage art and visual culture critically and imaginatively. The Minor in Fine Arts, focused on either art history, exhibitions studies or studio arts, is an excellent strategy for those seeking to deepen their critical engagement with another field of study. The department’s offerings are supplemented by a robust Visiting Artist and Scholar Program, as well as access to the WSU Museum of Art’s seasonal programming and permanent collection. The faculty members of the Fine Arts are internationally recognized contemporary artists and scholars that consistently bring their professional experience into the classroom.

The BFA program provides intensive involvement in the Fine Arts, and greater interaction with the Fine Arts faculty, and visiting artists. It is suited to those who wish to pursue a professional career in the arts or prepare for specialized graduate study. Students with a desire to explore independent ideas in art, develop their portfolio, receive constructive feedback, and exhibit their work will find the program essential to their undergraduate experience.

Each semester, students in the BFA Program will have an opportunity to meet with several faculty in the department to discuss their work, coalesce ideas, provide critical feedback, and offer direction to the students.

The BFA degree culminates in a Thesis Exhibition held in Gallery 3. Students will spend their final semester working towards their exhibition with two faculty advisors. The exhibit provides an important opportunity to showcase more ambitious projects as well as the range of work completed while in the program. Installing the work in the gallery, and seeing it on display provides an essential learning experience that can provide new insight and feedback as well as the opportunity to document the work for graduate school applications and future exhibitions.

For specific details on applying to the BFA Program, please see the BFA Application Form.

Historical Context: Is there a demonstration of a general knowledge of art history, artists/art movements on his/her work?

Contemporary Art Understanding: Is the student able to convey that they are informed artists by understanding global contemporary art process and concerns and how these processes inform and influence their own work?

Critical Evaluation: Is this student able to critique/analyze own works and the works of others by utilizing appropriate art vocabulary and concepts?

Curiosity: Does the student demonstrate a willingness to explore multiple, diverse, divergent or even contradictory ideas as well as the ambiguous gray areas between

Professionalism – Student displays professionalism in the presentation of the art and him/herself through:

Communication: Does the student exhibit an ability to articulate his/her own artistic production in written, spoken and visual forms?

Presentation: Does the student demonstrates intentionality, thoughtfulness and awareness of conventional best practices with presentation of works?

Receptivity: Does the student demonstrate an openness to applying suggestions from diverse viewpoints?

Curriculum (70 Credit Hours)

FA102: Visual Concepts I

FA103: Visual Concepts II

FA110: Beginning Drawing

FA201: Art History

FA202: Art History

FA303: Art History

FA304: Art History

2-D Studio (one of: 111, 312, 320, 370)

3-D Studio (340 or 350)

Media Arts (one of: 381, 332, 333)

FA312: Advanced Drawing

1 Writing in the Major Course [M]

FA498: Seminar [M]

27 Credits in Fine Arts 300–400 Level Electives

FA493: Senior Exhibit

Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts (BAFA)

The BAFA offers students 3 options:

Studio

Art History

General

The BAFA degree program allows the flexibility to develop interdisciplinary combinations within a broad liberal arts degree. Students have opportunities to double major or earn a minor from another academic department. For the Bachelor of Arts, a total of at least 48 credit hours of fine arts courses are required; 30 of these credit hours must be in 300/400-level courses. Students must also complete University graduation and general education requirements.

Historical Context: Is there a demonstration of a general knowledge of art history, artists/art movements on his/her work?

Contemporary Art Understanding: Is the student able to convey that they are informed artists by understanding global contemporary art process and concerns and how these processes inform and influence their own work?

Critical Evaluation: Is this student able to critique/analyze own works and the works of others by utilizing appropriate art vocabulary and concepts?

Curiosity: Does the student demonstrate a willingness to explore multiple, diverse, divergent or even contradictory ideas as well as the ambiguous gray areas between

Professionalism – Student displays professionalism in the presentation of the art and him/herself through:

Communication: Does the student exhibit an ability to articulate his/her own artistic production in written, spoken and visual forms?

Presentation: Does the student demonstrates intentionality, thoughtfulness and awareness of conventional best practices with presentation of works?

Receptivity: Does the student demonstrate an openness to applying suggestions from diverse viewpoints?

Curriculum (48 Credit Hours)

FA102: Visual Concepts I

FA103: Visual Concepts II

FA110: Beginning Drawing

FA201: Art History

FA202: Art History

FA303: Art History

FA304: Art History

2-D Studio (one of: 111, 312, 320, 370)

3-D Studio (340 or 350)

Media Arts (one of: 381, 332, 333)

2 Writing in the Major Courses [M]

12 Credits in Fine Arts 300–400 Level Electives

BAFA with Art History option

Art history is an integral part of the Fine Arts program. In general terms, the art history curriculum provides a strong outreach to the wider WSU student body because many of the art history courses fulfill WSU humanities and intercultural general education requirements (GERs). Any WSU student may complete an 18 credit art history minor. Within the studio program, Fine Arts studio majors receive a solid background in the history of art, art criticism, and contemporary theory. There is now an art history option within the BA in Fine Arts. This offers students a broad exposure to the history of the visual arts. Art history majors begin with foundation survey courses, the History of World Art (FA 201 and FA 202), and then take upper-division courses to consider art from specific cultures and historical time periods. In these specialized courses, students gain familiarity with contextual issues concerning the production and consumption of art. They develop research and writing skills necessary to think critically about art and visual culture. Students are also introduced to basic aspects of studio production to enhance their visual skills and knowledge of material practices. Students complete their studies by writing a thesis paper and developing knowledge of one foreign language.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge of major artistic traditions.

Critical reasoning skills, analysis of visual objects through use of art historical tools.

Ability to move between visual and verbal forms of communication (both oral and written) when analyzing and discussing works of art.

Ways of thinking about themselves and the world, as they recognize, explore, and challenge cultural attitudes and stereotypes, enabling greater appreciation and respect for the variety and range of art and learn to appreciate cultural differences.

An historical understanding of art works and artists’ practices within their social, cultural, political and economic contexts, with an appreciation for the ways that artists mediate issues within these contexts.

Students majoring in Fine Arts will be allowed to transfer a maximum of 18 semester hours and apply them towards the completion of their Fine Arts requirements. Students transferring credits must present a portfolio to the coordinator of that area (ceramics, painting, etc.)